Rust removing apparatus



Dec. 11, 1962 K. vlNDUM RUST REMOVING APPARATUS d m e United States Patent O 3,067,487 RUST REMOVING APPARATUS Kristian Vindum, 80 Western Drive, Daly City, Calif. Filed .lune 22, 1960, Ser. No. 38,056 2 Claims. (Cl. 29--81) This invention relates to rust removing apparatus. More particularly this invention relates to pneumatically operated apparatus having a hammer action and which is operable to remove heavy coatings of rust from the steel plates of ship decks.

In the servicing of sea-going vessels while they are in port it is necessary, among other things, to remove rust from the deck plates. Owing to the fact that deck plates are constantly subjected to moisture, are frequently bathed in seawater and often have pools of seawater standing on them for extended periods of time, a very heavy coating of rust develops. This rust coating is frequently so heavy that the usual means of cleaning metal surfaces are not practical. For example, Sandblasting is practical on vertical walls of ships but on the decks themselves, particularly the top deck, Sandblasting is not practical.

For the purpose of removing rust from ship decks a pneumatically operated hammer device is employed which applies repeated blows to the deck and to jar rust loose so that it can then be swept up or picked up by suction.

Devices of this character used heretofore have been deficient because of their relatively low rate of production and for other reasons. For example, with the air pressure available aboard the usual freighter it is not possible, or it is difficult to operate more than about three pistons or hammers simultaneously. Otherwise the volume of compressed air which is available is not sufficient. Also, prior devices of this character have been dimcult to operate and have required a manual or semimanual manipulation and the exertion of a large amount of muscular effort or body weight.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus of the character and for the purpose described.

It is a further obiect of the invention to provide improved rust removing apparatus for removing heavy coatings of rust from deck plates and ships.

It is a further and particular object of the invention to provide rust removing apparatus for removing rust from deck plates of ships whereby a large number of reciprocating, hammer-like elements can be employed in one assembly all of which can be operated by one man from the air supply normally available aboard ship, and which is easily manipulated and which has a high production rate.

The above and other objects will be apparent from the ensuing description and the appended claims.

One form of the invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a View in side elevation of the device of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view thereof with the handle removed and with a portion broken away to reveal certain features of interior construction.

FIGURE 3 is a view in side elevation similar to that shown in FIGURE l but on a larger scale and with a portion broken away to reveal certain interior construction.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 4 4 of FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawings, the device is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. It comprises two pneumatic hammer devices 11, which are or may be purchased items identical with those used heretofore and "ice well-known in the art. Each of the devices 11 comprises a body 12 having air inlet ports 13 and 13a, one of which is closed by a plug 14. In prior practice an air supply tube or pipe is connected to one or the other of the inlet ports 13 or 13a. Thus if an operator is working close to a wall he will connect his air line to the inlet port 13 so that he can approach the wall more closely. If he is working in a corner he may make his air connection to the port 13a.

In accordance with previous practice the operator would grasp the air inlet pipe or tube (not shown) which therefore serves as a handle as well as an air supply duct. He would also grasp the body 12 and would apply a downward force by muscular effort or by his body weight, to hold the device against the deck while it is operating to prevent the device from bouncing.

In the interior of the body portion 12 there is provided a suitable valve mechanism (not shown) whereby, when compressed air is admitted, the reciprocable pistons or plungers 16 will be caused to operate. That is to say, pulses of an air pressure cause the plungers 16 to push downwardly, then relief of pressure (which exhausts through the bottom of the body 12) permits them to retract. Each of the plungers 16 comprises a base p0rtion 17 of relatively wide diameter and an end portion 1S of smaller diameter which terminates in teeth 19. The effect of admitting compressed air to the device 11 is, therefore, to cause repeated downward thrusts of the plungers 16 so that, if the device is held firmly on a deck the plungers 16 will hammer the deck and will break away a coating of rust.

It will be apparent that operation in this manner is inconvenient and tedious. Production rates are slow. Also it has not been possible with the air supply commonly available aboard freighters, to operate a device having more than three or four such plungers. If more plungers are operated the air supply is inadequate.

In accordance with my invention I am enabled to operate at least a pair of the pneumatic devices 11 with a total of six or more plungers 16 from air supplies that are commonly available on freighters. I am able to do this with greater ease from the standpoint of operation and I am able to achieve a greatly increased production rate.

In accordance with my invention a pair of pnuematic hammer devices 11 are mounted in a body member 25 which is preferably a unitary, integral casting. More than two of the devices 11 may be used, but I have found that, by employing a pair of them, I can operate very successfully.

The body member 25 is formed with a cover 26, a vertical portion 27 having a passage 28 which is threaded at the top to receive a fitting as descibed hereinafter, lateral ports 29 and a bottom closure 30. As will be seen, the inlet port 13 of each pneumatic device 11 is seated in the adjacent lateral port 29. A gasket or liner 31 of rubber or other suitable sealing material is provided which acts as a seal to prevent escape of compressed air introduced through the passage 28 except through the pneumatic devices 11 themselves. Side plates 32 are provided which are bolted to the pnuematic device 11 by bolts 33 and nuts 34. A handle 35 is provided which is threaded into a fitting 36 on the body 25. Rearwardly extending, spaced brackets 37 are provided which serve to mount a wheel or roller 38.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, an air inlet assembly 40 is provided which comprises a pipe 41 to which a lubricating device or oiler 42 of known construction is attached. A valve 43 is provided which is controlled by a handle 44 to be manipulated by a human operator to admit and shut off the supply of compressed air. A quick connect-disconnect fitting 45 is provided to connect to an air pressure' line (not shown) and another similar `fitting is provided at 46 to connect with a fitting 47 which is threaded to an elbow 48 which is threaded into the upper threaded end of the passage 28 in body 25.

When the apparatus is to be transported from place to place, the wheel 38 is useful because it permits rolling the apparatus. The apparatus is quite heavy. The combined weights of the two pneumatic devices 11, of the heavy body casting 25 and of the side plates 32 gives the apparatus a desirably large mass. This mass provides sutiicient inertia to hold the apparatus firmly on the deck of a ship while it is in operation, and it avoids the need for an operator to apply muscular force or the weight of his body. This greatly improves the device from the standpoint of comfort and ease of operation, and it achieves the desired object of holding the apparatus rmly in contact with a deck notwithstanding the fact that the plungers 16 are -being rapidly operated to hammer the surface of the deck, and to react upwardly against the apparatus. The apparatus functions smoothly, eiiiciently and with ease. The plungers 16 are held at all times firmly in contact with the deck of the ship. A very effective, efficient and speedy job is accomplished without muscular effort.

It will, therefore, be apparent that apparatus has been provided which fullls the objects stated hereinabove. Among the advantages of the apparatus are the following: The pnuematic devices 11 are easily detachable from the frame member 27 simply by unscrewing the nuts 34 and removing the bolts 33. This is advantageous because it permits repair and replacement of the pnuematic devices 11. The very massive, heavy character of the frame 25 together with the weight of the pnuematic devices themselves, the plates 32 etc. act, as stated above, as an element of inertia to hold the device firmly on the deck of a ship while the plungers 16 are operating at high speed. Notwithstanding its very considerable weight the device is readily portable by reason of the wheeled mounting. The lubricator 42 acts to deliver lubricant (for example, a mixture of kerosene and lubricating oil) by aspiration to the interior of the pneumatic devices 11, thereby lubricating relatively moving parts at all times.

The apparatus 10 may, of cource, be made as a single, integral piece of equipment but it is advantageous to construct it as shown with the pneumatic devices 11 separable from the apparatus as a whole. This facilitates replacement, repair and cleaning of the devices 11, and it permits detachment thereof for hand operation in cramped quarters where the larger apparatus 10 may be diicult to use.

I claim:

1. A scaling machine comprising: a pair of pneumatic hammers each having a compressed air inlet passage and a plurality of plungers each of which is reciprocated at a rapid rate'between a retracted and an extended position when supplied with compressed air through its air inlet passage; a housing supporting said pair of hammers, said housing including a main body portion having horizontally and outwardly extending reception means, said reception means being dimensioned for and accommodating said hammers, said main body portion also including compressed air main passage closed at one end and a pair of compressed air side passages communicating said main passage with opposite sides of said main body portion, said side passages being positioned, dimensioned for and receiving said air inlet passages with said hammers between said reception means; a pair of vertical side members releasably clamping said hammers to said housing coupling means at said main passage.

2. A scaling machine comprising: a pair of pneumatic hammers each having a compressed air inlet passage and a plurality of plungers each of which is reciprocated at a rapid rate between a retracted and an extended position when supplied with compressed air through its air inlet passage; a housing supporting said pair of hammers, said housing including a vertical body portion having horizontally and outwardly depending brackets at its top and bottom extremity, the vertical distance between op posite inner surfaces of said horizontal brackets being dimensioned for and accommodating said hammers, said vertical body portion also including a compressed air main passage closed at one end thereof and a pair of compressed air side passages communicating said main passage with opposite sides of said vertical body portion, said side passages being positioned, dimensioned for and receiving said air inlet passages with said hammers bel tween said horizontal brackets, said housing further in-f' cluding a pair of side mem-bers releasably clamping the outer margins of said hammers to each other across opposite sides of Said vertical body portion; single axis wheel means in ground engagement coupled to one end of said vertical body portion and rearwardly of said plungers and about which said housing may be pivoted between an operating position and a transporting position; coupling means at said main passage and a handle aixed to said vertical body portion for guiding and positioning said scaling machine when in said operating position and for pivoting said scaling machine about said axis to its transporting position; the combined weights of said hammers, housing and side members providing suiiicient inertia to hold the machine firmly on a flat, horizontal surface while in operation and to avoid the need for application of muscular eifort by a human operator to hold the machine on such surface.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 596,781 Lanz 1an. 4, 1898 1,585,740 Saulia May 25, 1927 1,684,668 Gartin Sept. 18, 1928 2,421,231 Auen May 27, 1947 2,543,348 Briese Feb. 27, 1951 2,553,435 Briese May 15, 1951 2,562,899 Finn Aug. 7, 1951 

